MINGORA, Nov 22: The younger brother of NWFP Minister for Environment, Wajid Ali Khan, who was a police inspector, was shot dead suspected militants at Shahdara Bazzar on Saturday.

Farooq Khan, an inspector in the traffic police was shot dead in a shop.

“The incident is part of target killings being carried out by Taliban militants in Swat district,” a police official said.

He said witnesses said there was only a single attacker, whereas others said that they were two in number. “The deceased was a brave and honest official who did not leave the area despite receiving threats from unidentified men in the past,” the official said.Militants in Swat have been blamed for killing several political figures belonging to Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Q over the past couple of months.

Recently, the elder brother of ANP MPA Waqar Ahmad Khan, his two nephews and some other relatives were killed.

In another incident, the ANP’s Swat district vice president Muhammad Ameen was killed.

The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that none of the seven MPAs and two MNAs from Swat could be seen in the valley.

OPERATION: Security forces on Saturday assumed control of militants’ stronghold of Kabal after two weeks of fierce fighting.

Local people said Taliban had vacated the area about four days ago after severe clashes.

The army media centre claimed that security forces had taken control of the area and army engineers and bomb disposal squad had been clearing the area of land mines and remote-controlled improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The spokesman said the militants pillaged the area before retreating. He said that after receiving clearance about landmines and IEDs, the area would be handed over to local people.

Security forces released funds for restoring electricity in Koza Banda and other affected areas. The media centre claimed that funds to the tune of millions of rupees had been released for different electricity projects.